Sermons on Hidden Gifts:

Thorns That Hinder & Thorns That Help

Contributed by Joshua Blackmon on Jun 4, 2020

Pain can be a gift from God that leads us to sanctification or push us from relationship with Him. It all depends on our response.

Thorns That Hinder & Thorns That Help INTRODUCTION: Genesis 2 tells us, “And the LORD planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there He put the man whom He had formed.” The name Eden means delight. I don’t know, but from what we read there was no such thing in that world as pain as we know it. ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 12:5-10

Denomination: Pentecostal

Set Your Heart On Things Above

Contributed by William Baeta on Aug 2, 2013

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” Col. 3:1-3.

Theme: Set your hearts on things above Text: Eccl. 2:18-23; Col. 3:1-11; Lk. 12:13-21 The daily routine for the average adult is sleep, eat, work, exercise and relax and occassionally a minute or two when they remember to pray. Is this how God expects us to live? This is the world’s ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 3:1-11

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

New Creation PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Sep 29, 2025

The sermon emphasizes that true life with God begins with spiritual rebirth, a gift of grace that transforms us and welcomes us into God’s family.

Welcome, dear friends. If you walked in today weary, welcome. If you came hungry for hope, welcome. If you arrived with questions trailing you like a shadow, welcome. The Lord delights to meet us where we are, not where we wish we were. He comes near with kindness, with clarity, and with a promise ...read more

Scripture: John 3:3-5

Topics: New Creation, In Christ

Mountain Top Glory And The Descent Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Oct 18, 2000

Mountain top experiences are great things, but the test of them is when we come back to the real world, to a broken and hurting world where the glory of God is sometimes hidden. Then the test for us is whether we remember and trust what we’ve discovered o

What is it about mountain tops that we find so attractive? I don’t mean just the mountain climber who climbs a mountain just because it’s there, but the rest of us. Most people I think have a special feeling for mountains. We talk about the "Mountain Top Experience" don’t we? But what is it that ...read more

Scripture: Mark 9:2-29

Denomination: Anglican

The Wisest Investment

Contributed by Samuel Stone on Oct 31, 2007

The struggle with today’s passage is that on one hand Jesus is telling us the story of a ‘dishonest’ manager, and on the other hand, he wants us to learn from him. So today we will unfold the hidden treasure of wisdom from this parable and look at what he

Please read the scripture first: Luke 16:1-13 Herman and Henrietta were touring their brand-new house, a house that Henrietta had paid for with her money, a fact of which she often reminded Herman. In each room of the house, she said to her husband, “Herman, if it were not for my money, we ...read more

Scripture: Luke 16:1-13

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Selling Out To God Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Sep 20, 2021

Jesus's Parable of Hidden Treasure teaches all-out commitment to the kingdom of God. Christianity is not a little add-on to our busy, selfish life. It is a call to something so valuable that we would give up everything else to have it.

Last week we began a message entitled “Valuing the Valuable.” That teaching led us to the Parable of the Treasure in Matthew 13:44. That is our text for today. There Jesus said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes ...read more

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-11, 2 Peter 1:3, Luke 12:1-22, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 6:19-34, Luke 14:25-33, Hebrews 4:2, Isaiah 12:3, Romans 8:1-23, Psalm 16:11, John 3:1-17, Proverbs 13:15, Psalm 90:1-17, Proverbs 4:1-27, Matthew 13:44-46  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Resurrection

Contributed by Sam Mccormick on Oct 26, 2018

My purpose is to examine what we can know for certain while we live on this side of the veil through which we pass to whatever lies beyond it, hidden from our view, and learn what it tells pertaining to life on this side of the grave.

Note: I developed a simple set of slides on PowerPoint which I used in delivering this sermon. The prompts are included in the text below as reminders to me to advance the slides when I delivered the address. The slides are not professional quality, but If you are interested I will send the ...read more

Scripture: Revelation 1:17-18, 1 Corinthians 15:23-26, Hebrews 6:1-2, 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, Matthew 28:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:44, John 11:25, Acts 24:14-15, John 6:37-40, Daniel 12:2-3, 1 John 3:1-2, Job 14:15-17, Isaiah 26:19, Acts 17:22-32, Hebrews 11:35, Philippians 3:8-11, 2 Corinthians 5:1-4, Acts 10:42, 1 Corinthians 15:35-54, Romans 2:5-11, Revelation 20:12-14, Matthew 25:31-33, John 11:24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Hebrews 2:14-15, 2 Corinthians 5:10  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Poking Holes In The Darkness / Salt & Light

Contributed by J Jeffrey Smead on Jan 31, 2017

A Secret discipleship does not exist in God's kingdom. Either secrecy destroys discipleship, or discipleship destroys secrecy. Salt in a shaker or a light hidden makes no impact. You are called to poke holes in the darkness. (5 additional illustrations) Updated February 2023.

For those not familiar with an Anglican Service there are four Scripture readings prior to the Message. Today's assigned readings are: Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 and Matthew 5:13-20. A quiet forest dweller ... lived in the mountains ... high above ... a Swiss village ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20, Mark 9:50, Luke 14:34

Denomination: Anglican

Sermon # 11 - Chosen For A Purpose Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Sep 25, 2024

The life of Jonah teaches us that there is nothing we do is hidden from God. Also, we learn that as a church we must be certain of our identity and our purpose so we can glorify God through all we are and all we do.

We read in Jonah 1:7-8, Then the men said to each other, "We should throw lots to find out why this is happening to us." So the men threw lots. The lots showed that the troubles came to them because of Jonah. Then the men said to Jonah, "It is your fault that this terrible thing is ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 1:7-8, Acts 5:1-3, Matthew 16:18, Acts 20:28, Hebrews 12:23, Philippians 3:20, 1 Peter 2:9, Exodus 19:6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

Faith That Worships Series

Contributed by Derek Geldart on Jan 31, 2026

When life feels confusing and God’s ways seem hidden, faith learns to stop demanding answers and instead bows in reverent worship—trusting God’s sovereign power, choosing joy before deliverance, and resting in Him alone as its strength.

Living by Faith When Life Doesn’t Make Sense Faith that Worships Habakkuk 3:1-3:19 Last week we left the prophet Habakkuk standing watch upon the city wall—listening as the Lord answered his second complaint. God had already responded to Habakkuk’s first cry by revealing a difficult and ...read more

Scripture: Habakkuk 3:1-19

Denomination: Baptist

God’s Fire

Contributed by Samuel M on Sep 8, 2025

God’s fire is God's power, authority, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding hidden in the Crucified Christ which flows like fire. This fire flows from the throne of God. It doesn't set the outside on fire, but it sets the heart on fire.

Recently, I realized that God's Fire is nothing but the revelation of the Crucified Christ. God’s fire is God's power, authority, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding hidden in the Crucified Christ which flows like fire. This fire flows from the throne of God. It doesn't set the outside ...read more

A Grace-Filled Heart

Contributed by Dennis Lee on Feb 12, 2023

Grace is God’s gift to us. Therefore, we can’t earn it because no one earns a gift. Instead, we need to receive and open it. We’ll be looking at three qualities of a grace-filled heart. These are gratitude, endurance, and the fear God. Join us as we look further into God’s Amazing Grace.

A Christian’s Heart “A Grace-Filled Heart” Watch on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czOvASK0lSg In this series on a Christian’s heart, we’re looking at those qualities a Christian should and needs to possess, qualities that should be deep within our hearts. Today we’re ...read more

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:6, James 4:6-8, John 1:17, Romans 8:1, 1 John 3:20  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Foursquare

Spirit-Empowered Boldness PRO Sermon

Contributed by Sermon Research Assistant on Oct 4, 2025

The sermon urges us to cherish our inherited faith, overcome fear, and boldly nurture and protect the gifts and gospel entrusted to us by God.

If you hold this letter up to your ear, you can almost hear the heartbeat behind it. Paul is nearer to the end than the beginning. Cold walls. Thin blankets. Thick memories. He is thinking of a young pastor with tender tears and a tough assignment. He remembers a grandmother’s prayers and a ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

Topics: Boldness, Faith

The Fruit Of The Spirit Series

Contributed by Chris Appleby on Sep 24, 2003

Forget gifts for a moment. Let me show you the best way to demonstrate your Christian maturity. If you want to show just how mature you are as a Christian, then show it not by the way you exercise the gifts God gives you, but by the way you bear the fruit

Today we return to 1 Corinthians, but it’s been over a month, so I thought I should bring us all up to speed again. Let me remind you of where we got to last time. Paul has been addressing the question of the nature and function of spiritual gifts in the congregation. Corinth is a place where ...read more

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Denomination: Anglican

Feasting Through Fastiing

Contributed by Brad Bailey on Sep 22, 2006

“Fasting”… topic we don’t hear much about in the church to day - Many of us may think of fasting as for the spiritually elite… those specially gifted… a gift we seek about as much as celibacy or martyrdom. - Many of our initial thoughts, or even experi

“Fasting”… topic we don’t hear much about in the church to day - Many of us may think of fasting as for the spiritually elite… those specially gifted… a gift we seek about as much as celibacy or martyrdom. - Many of our initial thoughts, or even experiences conjure up thoughts of sitting around ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-10

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational